Episode 165
Damon's Vision: Transforming Wine Storage into an Experience Pt. 2
Bottle Bank is revolutionizing wine storage by offering a modern, secure, and climate-controlled solution that goes beyond traditional cellars. Co-founder Damon Raque shares insights into how this innovative approach not only caters to wine collectors but also fosters a vibrant community around wine appreciation. The facility will feature private wine vaults, a lounge, tasting rooms, and various amenities designed to enhance the wine experience. Damon discusses his journey from a focus on utilitarian wine storage to a hospitality-driven concept, emphasizing the importance of creating an inviting atmosphere for members. With a commitment to inclusivity, Bottle Bank aims to appeal to a diverse audience, making wine enjoyment accessible and enjoyable for everyone.
Damon Raque, co-founder of Bottle Bank, shares his vision for a unique wine experience in the heart of Midtown Atlanta. The podcast delves into the concept of Bottle Bank, which aims to provide an extensive selection of wines by the glass and bottle, paired with gourmet cheeses, charcuterie, and desserts. Raque describes the vibrant, walkable neighborhood that will host their establishment, highlighting its cultural significance and artistic flair. He also discusses the collaborative partnership with his long-time friend Rich, emphasizing how their complementary skills have shaped the business's development. With an annual membership model in place, Bottle Bank promises to offer an exclusive yet accessible environment for wine enthusiasts to enjoy curated experiences and private events.
Your Host: Forrest Kelly is an experienced Radio/TV broadcaster who has interviewed some of Hollywood’s biggest celebrities, from Garth Brooks to Kevin Costner. A lover of wine who is fascinated by the science behind it.
Voted One of The Best Travel, Top 5 Minute, and Top Wine Podcasts.
Takeaways:
- The discussion highlights the unique concept of Bottle Bank, a wine-oriented space in midtown Atlanta.
- Damon Raque emphasizes midtown Atlanta's vibrant, artistic nature as the ideal location.
- Membership will include access to a members-only lounge and various tasting experiences.
- Bottle Bank aims to enhance the wine-drinking experience with curated food pairings and events.
- The $2,500 annual membership includes exclusive amenities, making it a distinctive offering for wine enthusiasts.
Links referenced in this episode:
Links referenced in this episode:
Companies mentioned in this episode:
- Vint.Co
- BottleBank.com
Transcript
Welcome.
Host:Welcome to the Best five Minute Wine Podcast with Forrest Kelly.
Co-Host:Traditionally, wine is stored in a cellar or basement.
Co-Host:But Bottle bank is revolutionizing this practice by offering a modern, secure, climate controlled solution with other amenities too.
Co-Host:We return to our engaging dialogue with Damon Rocky of Bottle Bank.
Damon Rocky:They can store it there and more importantly, they can enjoy it.
Host:That's five Minute Wine Podcast.
Co-Host:Putting this whole thing together, you did some research, right?
Damon Rocky:Correct.
Co-Host:Was it done through a company or your just own experiences and you just started putting them down?
Co-Host:How did you come into making a clear vision?
Damon Rocky:Really kind of on my own, it's morphed over time.
Damon Rocky:Initially it was I looked at strictly wine storage and there's a couple of folks in Atlanta that do traditional wine storage.
Damon Rocky:Just a warehouse at 55 degrees, basic utilitarian storage for folks that have outgrown their current cellaring situation.
Damon Rocky:And I was looking at wine storage literally all over the world.
Damon Rocky:So Australia, New Zealand, the uk, different places in Europe, all over the US and again that's when I kind of realized most of these places didn't have anything that allowed people to take advantage of a wine community.
Damon Rocky:You know, some had a small little tasting room or a tiny little lounge, but nothing really hospitality driven.
Damon Rocky:And in my former life I was in sales and consulting and financial services and did a lot of work with restaurateurs and chefs and those types of folks.
Damon Rocky:So had kind of had a background in hospitality from that side of it.
Damon Rocky:And I think it started out as more of a wine storage concept supported with hospitality.
Damon Rocky:And over time as we've conceptualized the business, it's really flip flopped.
Damon Rocky:Now it's more of a hospitality concept with a wine storage component.
Co-Host:So like a safe deposit box kind of situation where you when if you bring in a particular bottle you.
Co-Host:So I don't know if you've listened to the episode, but I talked to wine investors and where you can buy together with multiple people buy a $5,000 bottle of wine, say so Vint Co perhaps you buy this expensive bottle, you bring it to the bank.
Co-Host:Is it stored someplace else or is it in your actual storage part of the bank?
Damon Rocky:So each individual member.
Damon Rocky:So we're going to be a semi private concept.
Damon Rocky:So we are open to the public, but we also have an optional membership component.
Damon Rocky:So one of the benefits of membership is an individual private wine vault.
Damon Rocky:And we're going to have two different sizes.
Damon Rocky:We're still figuring out the exact capacity, but as it stands now we'll have one size that's going to be between three and four cases and a second size that will be smaller at one case.
Damon Rocky:So individuals will have the ability to source wine from us, but also more importantly, wherever they obtain their wine, if it's online, if it's at a local wine store, if it's via an allocation list or a wine club subscription, we can accept their shipments, they can come and pick them up, or they can say, leave the wine there.
Damon Rocky:At Bottle bank, we will stick it in their private vault.
Damon Rocky:They can store it there and more importantly, they can enjoy it.
Damon Rocky:So the overall size of the space is about 9,000 square feet, of which about 3,000 square feet is going to be the wine vault where members can store their wine.
Damon Rocky:And the remaining square footage is going to be again, a big lounge, tasting rooms, chef's table, tasting counter, some other fun kind of amenities that we've put together to kind of create the Bottle bank experience holistically.
Co-Host:In our next interview with Damon Rocky, co founder of bottlebank.com we will get into who their customer is.
Damon Rocky:I envision Bottle bank appealing to a variety of individuals and that's the great thing about wine.
Damon Rocky:You know, it's inclusive and it is connected.
Host:Who's bringing wine to the next big scene?
Host:It's David Rocky and he's living the dream.
Host:BottleBank.com he's co founder too.
Host:Damon Rock keep the name Bottle banks the game from fine wines to sellers he's changing the frame chandelier bar tasting night so divine Private events with the perfect wine Curated dinners and tasting so fine by the glass where you sip and shine Private cellaring events that impress with Damon Rocky you're sipping the best Damon Rocky the name Bottle banks the game from fine wines to sellers he's changing the frame chandelier bar tasting nights so divine Private events with the perfect one the best five minute one podcast.
Co-Host:Don'T forget my favorite part Please like and follow.
